Reclaimed brick wall problem?

[chris101]

We have just had a new wall built with reclaimed bricks however it seems that many of the bricks have some cracks. Some wider and deeper than others as per attachments.

Is this normal? The brick layer assured me that it would be no problem and that is the nature of reclaimed bricks?

 

[^woody^]

I'd be much more concerned about the frost blowing those bricks on the top of the wall and at ground level, and the wall becoming covered in algae due to no proper coping or drips.

Those are the wrong choice of bricks.

But fractured bricks should not be used in a wall.

 

[chris101]

Thank you for your response.
What would be the correct way?
The brick layer is coming again next week to collect some tools he left behind, what should I be advising him?

 

[^woody^]

Sorry, I can see that you are in London and looking at the bricks again, they may well be London Stocks, which would have a high frost resistance. So the cracks won't matter.

(The top and bottom of an exposed wall are susceptible to frost attack, which crumbles soft bricks)

But that still leaves the lack of a drip (overhang) to cast water off the wall. This will cause persistant damp and algae strains. This might mellow the wall and it could look OK, or crap. It's probably subjective.

Best ignore my previous post for now, and see what some others say.

 

[theprinceofdarkness]

I don't think that the quality of these bricks mean't that they were ever used as facing bricks. Could have been used for an inner course?
Frank

 

[chris101]

Sorry, should have mentioned they are reclaimed London stock bricks...